Laser Cutting 101 – How it Works

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser cutter is a machine that cuts thick materials with great precision and at high speeds directed by a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machine. Different types of lasers are used to cut a variety of materials the principle remains the same: energy is converted into a highly focused, high density beam of laser light. Everything in its path is burned, vaporised or melted. This process has various benefits, including:

Extreme precision, allowing inexpensive manufacturing of even very small objects.

High quality cut surfaces that seldom requires additional finishing.

Commercially manufacturing objects that would be extremely expensive to manufacture by any other method.

Futuristic Laser Cutting – Setting the Industry Standard

After humble beginnings, the original laser was made based on stimulating a ruby crystal and was of low power. Modern industrial laser cutting machines are mostly fiber laser cutting, CO2 or neodymium lasers. Fiber laser cutting uses a beam that is created using a ‘seed laser’ which is then amplified using glass fibers and pump diodes. A fiber beam is around 100 times more intense than that of a CO2 laser and it can work with all kinds of metals – perfect for most projects across a wide range of materials, requiring precision and accuracy.

We pride ourselves in keeping up to date with the latest equipment at Pinion & Adams and our Amada fiber laser machines are an integral part of our service offering.